Shoe flexer

ABSTRACT

An electrically driven shoe stretcher adapted to break in and stretch a shoe in simulation of the flexure imparted to shoes in normal usage while on the human foot. The device comprises a housing and cover to which a resilient mold for insertion in the shoe is attached. The mold is designed to flex in the manner of the foot in the act of walking. While the shoe and mold are held in place by the closed cover, means are provided for breaking in the shoe and stretching it transversely.

0" v United States Patent .1 [111 3,810,270 Newman 5] May 14, 1974 SHOE FLEXER [76] inventor: June S Newman, 20 P Ave Primary ExaminerPatnck D. Lawson New York, N.Y. l00|6 7 AB RA [22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1973 [5 1 ST CT An electrically driven shoe stretcher adapted to break PP NOJ 346,085 in and stretch :1 shoe in simulation of the flexure imparted to shoes in normal usage while on the human [52] US. CL... 12/41.] foot' The device comprises musing Cover m [5]] Int Cl IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I A43! 11/14 which a resilient mold for insertion in the shoe is n!- [58] Field of Searchm; {2/411 412 l R 41 tached. The mold is designed to flex in the manner of Q the foot in the act of walking. While theshoe-and [56] Refcrencescited m old are held in place by the closed cover, means are provided for breaking in the shoe and stretching it UNITED STATES PATENTS transversely 2,048,837 7/1936 Byers 12/4l.l 2,464,969 3/1949 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Faber et al l24/4l.l

SHOE FLEXER flexure is assured by a resilient mold which is secured to the cover for the housing. As will be seen, special means are provided for bending the shoe upwardly in such a manner as to cause the shoe to be less resistent to such bending as occurs during the walking movement and to actually stretch outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the shoe.

One object of the invention is to provide an electrically driven shoe stretcher adapted to break in new shoes as occurs normally during walking and to stretch the shoes outwardly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated on reading the following description of one embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stretcher with the cover broken away;

FIG. 2 is an end section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a view of the mold construction.

Referring to the drawings, the stretcher has a housing 6 with a hinged cover 8 capable of being locked to the housing by latch 10.

Disposed in the bottom and forward portion of the housing 6 is cam roller 12 eccentrically driven on shaft 14 which is rotated by motor 16. Bound about the surface of the cam roller and axially spaced there along are stretch rings 18 which are slightly curved axially of the roller.

Resilient molds 20, as shown in FIG. 3, having a wooden insert 21 are screwed thereby to the cover 8 of the housing. The molds may be fabricated of rubber the resilience of which will permit bending and stretching in such a manner as to simulate such flexures during the walking movement.

In operation. the shoes are placed on the molds 20 and the cover is latched. The molds are so located that the rings 18 on the eccentric roller 12 bear against soles of the shoes proximate their fore parts. When the motor is turned on, the shoes will successively bend, as shown in their dotted line position in FIG. 2, and return to their normal state, such flexure being predetermined by the resilient molds. At the same time, the shoe uppers will be stretched outwardly due to the contour of the rings.

Various modifications of this invention may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and principle of the invention set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrically driven shoe stretcher comprising a housing, a resilient shoe mold connected to the housing and adaptedto accommodate a shoe, said housing includes a hinged cover and said mold is secured to the underside of said cover, and a latch is provided to lock the cover to its housing, a motor and a driven shaft, a roller eccentrically mounted on said shaft and adapted to bear against the underside of a shoe disposed on said mold when said cover is closed.

2. A shoe stretcher as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one ring is mounted on said roller, said ring providing a surface for engaging the shoe being slightly curved axially of the roller. 

1. An electrically driven shoe stretcher comprising a housing, a resilient shoe mold connected to the housing and adapted to accommodate a shoe, said housing includes a hinged cover and said mold is secured to the underside of said cover, and a latch is provided to lock the cover to its housing, a motor and a driven shaft, a roller eccentrically mounted on said shaft and adapted to bear against the underside of a shoe disposed on said mold when said cover is closed.
 2. A shoe stretcher as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one ring is mounted on said roller, said ring providing a surface for engaging the shoe being slightly curved axially of the roller. 